Mechanisms for moving a striker element out of the firing locus of a percussion-ignitable flashlamp

ABSTRACT

A striker element of a photographic apparatus is movable to an energized position, and then released for movement to a deenergized position into percussion impact with a primer of a percussion-ignitable flashlamp located at a firing locus. Mechanisms are provided for moving the striker element to a withdrawn position out of the firing locus to permit replacement of a new flashlamp.

United States Patent Harold L. Malone;

Chester W. Michatek, both of Rochester. N.Y.

Oct. 14, 1968 June 15, 1971 Eastman Kodak Company Rochester, N.Y.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee MECHANISMS FOR MOVING A STRIKER ELEMENT OUT OF THE FIRING LOCUS OF A PERCUSSION-IGNITABLE FLASIILAMP 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 95/11, 95/11.5,240/1.3

Int. Cl G03b 9/70 Field of Search ..95/11, 11.5;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 590,204 9/1897 Blackmore 95/1 l.5

Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Robert P. Greiner Attorneys- Robert W. Hampton and John D. Husser ABSTRACT: A striker element of a photographic apparatus is movable to an energized position, and then released for movement to a deenergized position into percussion impact with a primer of a percussion-ignitable flashlamp located at a firing locus. Mechanisms are provided for moving the striker element to a withdrawn position out of the firing locus to permit replacement ofa new flashlamp.

PATENTED JUN] 5197! HAROLD L. MALONE CHESTER W MICHATEK INVENTORS M Q M Z3 QM ATTORNEYS MECHANISMS FOR MOVING A STRIKER ELEMENT OUT OF THE FIRING LOCUS OF A PERCUSSION- IGNITABLE FLASHLAMP CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to commonly assigned copending U.S. application Ser. No. 766,739, entitled Apparatus for Actuating Firing of Percussion-lgnitable Flash Lamps and operating Mechanism Therefor, filed Oct. ll, 1968, in the name of William T. Hochreiter; copending U.S. application Ser. No. 765,930 entitled Multilamp Flash Unit," filed Oct. 8,1968 in the name of David E. Beach; and commonly assigned copending U.S. application Ser. No. 767,141, entitled Percussion Type Flash Lamp Igniter," filed Oct. 14, 1968 in the name of Chester W. Michatek.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION the present invention relates generally to photographic apparatus, and more specifically to mechanisms for moving and more striker element out of the firing locus of a primer of a percussion-ignitable flash lamp.

Before the development of electrically ignitable flash lamps, it was common practice to provide illumination for photographic purposes by igniting a small powder charge. Devices having means for striking the primer or percussion cap were utilized to ignite such flash-powder charges, one such device being disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 942,941.

Recently, a photoflash lamp has been developed which utilizes a percussion-ignitable primer charge to ignite combustibles enclosed in a light-transmitting envelope. A plurality of these lamps have been assembled in a multilamp package in which each lamp has its own reflector and a firingtube or primer that extends to a common bottom wall of the unit. Such percussion-firable multilamp photoflash units and suitable bases and sockets for supporting the units for ignition and indexing rotation in photographic apparatus are disclosed in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 765,930.

When considering prior art, it is apparent that old techniques for firing powder charges are unsuitable for use with the compact and automatic present-day photographic apparatus. This is so because, among other things, such prior art devices do not provide for fast removal and insertion of lamps.

When a flash lamp of the above-mentioned type is used with a photographic apparatus, the flash unit is inserted in a camera socket with the ignition primer located at a firing locus adjacent suitable percussion-firing mechanism. The striker element of the firing mechanism is moved to an energized position normally in response to movement of the film-advancing lever, and when released for movement to a deenergized position urges the striker element into percussion impact with the flash lamp primer located at the firing locus for igniting the flash lamp.

A problem that is presented in photographic apparatus of the type described is that in the rest or deenergized position, the striker element is located at the firing locus interfering wit the replacement of photoflash lamps. In such a mechanism, indexing of the flash unit for moving the primer of a new lamp into the firing locus may cause the primer to strike the striker element in its deenergized position resulting in premature firing of the new flash lamp. The present invention solves this problem by providing mechanisms for moving the striker element to a withdrawn position out of the firing locus following percussion impact with a flash lamp primer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes withing its scope mechanisms for moving a striker element to a withdrawn position out of the firing locus of a primer of a percussion-ignitable flash lamp, thereby permitting replacement of a new flash lamp at the firing locus without prematurely firing it. In one embodiment of the invention, the striker element following percussion impact with a flash lamp primer, is moved out of the firing locus by the shutter release mechanism. In other embodiments of the invention, the striker element, following percussion impact with a flash lamp primer, is moved out of the firing locus by movement of the flash lamp unit or individual flash lamps.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in a camera of the type having means for detachably receiving and supporting a percussion-firable flash lamp with a primer of the flash lamp located at a firing locus, mechanisms for moving the striker element to a withdrawn position out of the firing locus following percussion impact of the striker element with the primer of the flash lamp.

Another object of the present invention is to provide mechanisms for moving a striker element out of the firing locus of a primer of a percussion-ignitable flash lamp, such mechanisms being of simple design and construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a portion of a photographic apparatus embodying the present invention, and showing the striker element in an energized position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the striker element in a deenergized position, in which the hammer is in engagement with the primer of a flash lamp at the firing locus;

FIG. 3 is a segmental, side elevational view of a different embodiment of the invention showing a striker element in a deenergized position, in which the hammer is in engagement with the primer at the firing locus;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the striker element in a withdrawn position in which the hammer is out of the firing locus;

FIG. 5 is a segmental, top plan view partially in section of a different embodiment of the invention showing the striker element in a deenergized position, in which the hammer is in engagement with the primer at the firing locus; and

FIG. 6 is a segmental view similar to FIG. 5, showing the striker element in a withdrawn position, in which the hammer is out of the firing locus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, this invention is shown in connection with a photographic apparatus such as a camera 10. Since photographic cameras of the type hereinafter described are generally well known in the art, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming a part of or cooperating more directly with the present invention, elements not specifically shown or described here in being understood to be selectable from those known in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional film-winding lever 12 is shown having a handle 14 by which the lever may be manually rotated back and forth about a shaft 16. A gear tooth 18 is provided on the periphery of winding lever 12 engageable with an aperture 20 at one end of a slidable cocking lever 22 guidable for reciprocal translatory movement by any suitable means, not shown. The lever has a V-shaped notch 24 at one end in alignment with a V-shaped hammer 26 at one end of a flexible, striker plate element 28 pivotally mounted at 30. Upon rotation of winding lever 12 in a counterclockwise direction by the operator, notch 24 of lever 22 engages hammer end 26 of striker element 28 and pivots the striker element in a clockwise direction against the bias of a spring 32. During such movement, hammer end 26, which rides on the upper edge of a latch member 34, enters a Vshaped notch 3 at one end of latch member 34 which releasably holds striker element 28 in an energized or cocked position as seen in FIG. 1. Release of winding lever 12 by the operator at the end of is travel in one direction causes the winding lever to be returned to its original position by any suitable spring means, not shown, as is well known in the a art. The operator may then continue to move winding lever 12 back and forth for advancing the film to an exposure position. During such action, cocking lever 22 continues to be reciprocally translated without any efiect on energized striker element 28.

The latch member 34 for striker element 28 is pivotally mounted at 37, and is pivotally urged by a spring 38 in acounterclockwise direction. The member 34 has a laterally extending flange 40 at one end thereof provided with an inclined ramp 42 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

The shutter mechanism for camera comprises a pivotally mounted shutter blade 44, shown in part, biased by a spring 46 into a normal aperture-closed position, as seen in FIG. I. The shutter blade 44 has a lug 48 at one end thereof engageable by a driving member 50 which is driven by any suitable power means such as a tensioned spring 52 for driving shutter blade 44 to an aperture-open position to make an exposure, the shutter blade being permitted to return by its spring 46 to its aperture-closed position to complete the exposure. The driving member 50 is of known type, and is movable manually by any known means such as a film winding mechanism in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1 against the bias of spring 52. During such movement, the driving member 50 rides over a bevelled edge 54 (see FIG. 2) of a stop lug 56 on an arm 58 of a reciprocally movable shutter release lever 60, and drops in front of lug 56 into a cocked position as seen in FIG. 1. Depression of release lever 60 by a release button 62 from its normal, inoperative position as seen in FIG. 1 removes stop lug 56 from the path of driving member 50. The released driving member initially strikes inclined ramp 42 oflatch member 34 moving it in a clockwise direction for releasing striker element 28 for movement to its deenergized position. The driving member 50 also strikes lug 48 on shutter blade 44 driving the shutter blade to its aperture-open position to expose the film. The inclined ramp 42 and lug 48 are properly positioned for actuation in timed relation so that striker element 28 is released and hammer end 26 strikes a primer 64 of a flash lamp 66 to ignite the lamp in proper synchronism with movement of shutter blade 44 to its aperture-open position. The driving member 50 and striker element 28 are returned manually or by a film-winding mechanism to their cocked and energized positions respectively.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mechanism for moving striker element 28 from its deenergized position, in which hammer 26 is in engagement with primer 64, to a withdrawn position, in which hammer 26 is out of the firing locus, comprises an arm 68 on release lever 60 engageable with a flange 70 on striker element 28. In the energized position of striker element 28 and the normal inoperative position of release lever 60 as seen in FIG. 1, arm 68 and flange 70 are spaced from one another. When release lever 60 is depressed into its operative position as seen in FIG. 2 to make an exposure, striker element 28 is released and urged into its deenergized position, in which hammer 26 strikes primer 64 of flash lamp 66 and remains in engagement therewith. In this position, arm 68 and flange 70 are still out of engagement. However, upon release of release lever 60 by the operator, the release lever is returned by its spring 72 to its normal inoperative position causing arm 68 to engage flange 70 and move striker element 28 to its withdrawn position, seen dotted in FIG. 2, in which hammer 26 is out of the firing locus of primer 64. The operator may then index the flash lamp unit 80 without any danger of the primer of the new lamp striking hammer 26 and causing premature firing.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, parts similar to parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same numerals primed. In this embodiment, the tip of primer 64 is provided with an enlarged head 74 at one end having bevelled surfaces 76 78. Upon removal of a fired flash lamp 66' as seen in FIG. 4, bevelled surface 78 engages V- shaped hammer 26 and cams striker element 28' in the direction of the arrow out of the firing locus, the striker element then returning to its original deenergized position after the lamp is removed. Insertion of a new flash lamp 66 causes bevelled surface 76 to engage hammer 26' and cam the hammer in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 4 for moving the hammer out of the firing locus. Bevelled surface 78 eases the hammer to a position against primer 64' eliminating striking of the primer and possible premature firing of the lamp. Although no mechanism is shown for moving striker element 28' to an energized position, or releasing the striker element, ny suitable mechanism such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be used.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, parts similar to parts shown in FIG. 1 and 2 are dented by the same numerals double primed. Also, the mechanisms shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for moving striker element 28" to an energized position and releasing it are applicable to this embodiment. In FIG. 5, striker element 28" is in its deenergized position, in which 26" is in engagement with primer 64", this being the normal position of the hammer after striker element 28" has moved from its energized position to its deenergized position for striking primer 64" ignite the flash lamp. Indexing of flash lamp unit 80" in a counterclockwise direction as seen by the arrow in FIG. 5, manually or by any other suitable means, causes fired primer 64" to urge hammer26" and striker element 28" to the right as seen in FIG. 6 past a notch 82 in latch lever 34". When hammer 26" is released by slipping off the edge of primer 64" upon continued movement of flash lamp unit 80" to present a new primer at the firing locus, hammer 26" engages notch 82 and is held in a withdrawn position out of the firing locus. The striker element may be moved from its withdrawn position to its energized position by any suitable cocking lever such as shown in FIG. 1.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim: I. In a camera of the type having means for detachably receiving and supporting a flash lamp ignitable by striking an impact receiving element located at a firing locus, the combination comprising:

striker means providing a striking surface and movable between an energized position, in which potential energy is stored for urging said striking surface toward said firing locus, and a deenergized position, in which said striking surface is positioned at said firing locus; release means moveable from a position to a second position for releasing said striker means from its energized position for movement to its deenergized position;

resilient means urging said release mans from said second position toward said first position; and

means coupling said striker means and release means for moving said striking surface out of said firing locus in response to return movement of said release means from its second position to its first position under urging of said resilient means.

.2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein sad coupling means comprises an arm on said release means engageable with a flange on said striker means.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said striker means comprises a movable lever, said release means comprises a movable member, and said coupling means comprises a flange on said lever engageable by an arm on said member.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said camera further has shutter means movable between open and closed positions for exposing a film, said striker means comprises a pivotal lever having a hammer striking surface, said release means comprises a reciprocally movable member coupled to said shutter means for releasing said shutter means to make an exposure, and said coupling means comprises a flange extending from said lever engageable by an arm extending from said member. 

1. In a camera of the type having means for detachably receiving and supporting a flash lamp ignitable by striking an impact receiving element located at a firing locus, the combination comprising: striker means providing a striking surface and movable between an energized position, in which potential energy is stored for urging said striking surface toward said firing locus, and a deenergized position, in which said striking surface is positioned at said firing locus; release means moveable from a position to a second position for relEasing said striker means from its energized position for movement to its deenergized position; resilient means urging said release mans from said second position toward said first position; and means coupling said striker means and release means for moving said striking surface out of said firing locus in response to return movement of said release means from its second position to its first position under urging of said resilient means.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein sad coupling means comprises an arm on said release means engageable with a flange on said striker means.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said striker means comprises a movable lever, said release means comprises a movable member, and said coupling means comprises a flange on said lever engageable by an arm on said member.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said camera further has shutter means movable between open and closed positions for exposing a film, said striker means comprises a pivotal lever having a hammer striking surface, said release means comprises a reciprocally movable member coupled to said shutter means for releasing said shutter means to make an exposure, and said coupling means comprises a flange extending from said lever engageable by an arm extending from said member. 